About

Yara International is one of the best performing companies in Norway. It the world’s leading producer of nitrates, calcium nitrate, fertilisers and the global number two in ammonia production. It also provides crop nutrition products and solutions to 20 million farmers worldwide. With around 13,000 employees, production sites on six continents and operations in more than 50 countries, it also creates a lot of work for general counsel Kristine Ryssdal. She joined the organisation in May 2016 and was shortly afterwards involved in the sale of Yara’s European CO2 business and its remaining 34% stake in the Yara Praxair Holding joint venture to US company Praxair, in a deal worth €300m. In another major deal concluded in August 2016, Ryssdal was involved in the purchase of Tata Chemicals’ urea business in India for €400m. In May 2017, Yara entered into a partnership with Norway-based technology group Kongsberg to build the world’s first autonomous and zero emissions container ship. Before joining Yara, Ryssdal served as vice president legal at Statoil between 2012 and 2016 and immediately before that was senior vice president and chief legal officer of Renewable Energy Corporation for four years. She held other notable legal positions at Norsk Hydro between 1998 and 2008.